Grader for drains



(No Medal.)

- G. F. W. HARRIS.

` GRADER FOR DRAINS. No. 25L873.

Patented Jan. 3,1882.

ATTORNEYS.

u the grading UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

GEORGE F. W; HARRIS, OF WOODBURN, ILLINOIS.

GRADER FOR DRAINS.

SPECIFICATION formng part of Letters Patent No. .251,873, dated January 3, 1882.

` Application filed May 11, 1881. (No model.)

To alltrhom tt may concern Be it knownthat I, GEORGE F. W. HARRIS, of Woodburn, county of Macoupin, and State of Illinois, have invented certain useful Improvements in Graders 'for Drains, of which the following is a specification.

Figurel is a sectional side elevation of my improvement, taken through the line x w, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation of the same, taken through the line y y, Fig. 1.`

The object of this invention is to facilitate of drains to secure a uniform fall or inclination.

The invention consists in constructing a grader for drains with two adjustable trestles carrying ad j ustable screw-books, a straight bar Suspended from the scrcw-hooks, bars and pulleys travelling upon the straight bar, and a grading-tool Suspended from the bars and pulleys by a chain, whereby the bottom of the drain cau be opened to a uniforn grade, as will be hereinafter fully described.

This invention is especially applieable to tile or blind ditches, Where uniformity of grade is essential to prevent the drain from beconin g stopped or choked 5 but it can also be applied with advantage to open drains.

In constructing the grader two trestles are used, each ot'which is formed of two standards, A, and a cross-bar, B. To the lower end of each standard A is attached abase or foot, G, to give the said'standard a firm support. The upper part of each standard A is slotted to receive a neck or notched portion formed upon the cross-bar B, near its end. Several holes are formed in the slotted upper parts of the standards A and in the notched portion of the cross-bars B to receive the pins D, by' which the said standards A and cross-bars B are secured to each other, so that the trestles can be adjusted as circumstances may require.

Through a hole in the center of each cross- 4 bar B is passed a screw, E, which has a handstraight bar, H. The bar H is made twenty feet(moreorless)in length,andis strengtheped against sagging by a brace-bar, I, which is inelined or tapered upon its upper edge from the center toward each end. The brace-bar I is placed beneath the bar H with the center of its upper edge resting against the center of the .lower edge of the said bar H. The ends of the hrace-bar I are secured to the barH by screws or bolts J, so that the said breee-har can be put under more or less strain by adjusting the said screws J.

' upon one of the screw-books E when-shifting the grader. To the lower ends of the carrierbars K is attached a hook, N, to receive the chain O, to the lower end of which is attached the `grading-tool P, which is made with a long handle, Q, for convenience in operating'the said sera-per. The scraper is sharp on both sides and has a turn on the point, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, so that by working it back and forth the earth is cut in the bottom ot' the ditch and removed with a shovel when the tiles are laid.

In using the grader the drain is opened to within a few-nches of the required depth. Then, beginning at the ontletof the drain, the trestles A B are adjusted over the drain and at a distance apart equal to the length of the bar E, and the loops G are hooked upon the hooks ot' the screws E. The har H is then leveled by means of a spirit or plumb level, and the screws E are adjusted by turning the nuts F to give the. bar H an inclination equal to the required fallof the drain. The chain O is then hooked upon the book N, and the grading or channeling tool P Q is used to bring the bottom of the-drain to the desired depth. This is done by grasping the handle Q, holding it at a suitable inclination and drawing the grading tool back and fortl, so as to cut up the soil, beginning under one end of bar H and working up to the other end as the carrierbars K are moved forward. The tiles an then be put in and covered. The pulleys L are then run to the upper end of the bar H, the stapleGis unhooked from the hook of the screw hooked from the screw-book E, and the bar H is run forward upon the carrier K L for its entire length, its forward ends is placed upon the ground at the side of the drain, the ring M is unhooked from the sorew-hook E, and the rear staple G is hooked uponthe said book. The rear trestle is then carried forward, set over the drain, the forward staple G is hooked upon the screw-book E ot' the said trestle, the forward end of the bar H is raised by turning the nut F of the screw-book E of the forward trestle to bring the barH to the inclination of the required grade. The gradingtool P Q is then used to open the bottom of the drain to the required grade, and tiles are again laid and covered, and so on until the drain is completed.

The grader can be adjusted in various other ways-as, forinstauce, by sighting; but I pret'er the manner herein described as being simple and convenient.

Having thus fully described my iuvention, what I claim as new, and 'desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1 1. A grader for drains containing the following elements, namely: a rigid bar mounted upon suitable supports, with means for adjust- "ing the bar to correspond with the intended grade of the bottom of the drain, and a gradingtool arranged to travel upon said bar and work the drain to the grade, substantially as set forth.

2. In a grader for drains, the combination, with the rigid gage-bar H, of the carrier K L and the grading-tool P, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the bottom of the drain can be worked to a uniform grade, as set forth.

3. A grader for drains constructed substantially as herein shown and described, consisting of the trestles A B, the bar H, the adjustable screw-books E,-carrier K L, and the chain and grading-tool Q P Q, as set forth.

4. In a grader for drains, the combination, with the trestles A B and the straight bar H, of the screw-books E, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the said bar H can be adjusted parallel with the' grade of the drain, as set forth.

5. In a grader for drains, the combination, with the trestles A B, the screw-books E, and the bar H, of the carrierK L, the chain O, and the grading-tool P Q, substantially as herein shown and described,- whereby the bottom of the drain can be opened to a uniform grade, as set forth. v

GEORGE FREDERICK WILLIAM HARRIS. Witnesses:

JAMES G. RUMBOLZ," EDWARD HOLLISTER. 

